Lorraine Pelczar Yourglivch

Lorraine Pelczar Yourglivch, a resident of Wyndmoor, PA for the past two years, died on Wednesday, March 16th in Thomas Jefferson University Hospital from complications of a stroke she’d suffered on March 1st. Born on September 26, 1941, in Wilkes-Barre, PA, the middle child of Edward F. and Anne Drozda Pelczar, Lorraine or “Rainy” as her father called her, attended both St. Boniface and St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic grade schools, graduated from Wilkes-Barre Township High School, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from College Misericordia, Dallas, PA, on a full scholarship. Lorraine was extremely proud of her family: four daughters and four sons-in-law (Laura and Peter Demkovitz, Wyndmoor; Lynne and Norman Pegler, Philadelphia; Leora and Michael Joyce and Joelle and Ray Keiper, all of Wilkes-Barre Township); grandchildren (Zoe, Olivia, Graham, and Nadia Demkovitz; Amanda Jeckell; Dominic Donato and Lacey Keiper), grandcats (Bosco, Mario, Luigi, and Minerva) and granddog (Peach); nieces and nephews (Tom, Jan, Tommy, Zachary, and Ethan Herstek; Angela and John Zongilla; Jeremy, Jessica, and Kristen Lacomis; Leo, Michelle, Charlette, and Leo Woelkers; John and Cindy Herstek; Andrew, Edith, and Isabel Herstek; Khoa Pelczar. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Edward P. and Lieu Pelczar and was predeceased by her sister, Carol Pelczar Herstek and her husband, Joseph Yourglivch. Mrs. Yourglivch had quite a lengthy and varied work history as a substitute teacher and tutor, a department manager at Sears, Roebuck and Co., an employee of the Social Security Department, Aunt Mary’s Yarns, Joann Fabrics, Mellon Bank, and WBRE Television. At Wilkes-Barre’s NBC affiliate, Lorraine worked as the front desk receptionist, an occasional actor for local ads, and author of the “View from the Front Desk” column. Several years ago she was a coauthor of the book, Once a Pickle, about her late husband, Joe Y’s life, in addition to having had humorous essays published in knitting magazines. Most recently she taught knitting and sewing classes at Stitchers’ Dream. Lorraine loved to sing and was a long-time member of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church and the Orpheus Choral Society in Wilkes-Barre, before joining Holy Martyrs Church Choir in Oreland, PA. She was an awesome sister to Carol and Ned; a distinguished, self-proclaimed “knitaholic,” avid reader, grammar nazi, and a smart, generous, classy lady who reveled in family trips to the shore. A life-long supporter of liberal and progressive causes, she met then-Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy when she was a “Kennedy Girl” at the (city) Square in Wilkes-Barre in 1960. Lorraine was also a kind, loyal, thoughtful, and devoted friend to countless people, both known and unknown—she truly enjoyed knitting for several charities—and will be greatly missed. A funeral liturgy for Lorraine will be held on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 10:30 in St. Anthony’s Church, Ambler, PA, with pastor, Msgr. Steven McHenry and Fr. Michael J. Ryan officiating. Friends may call on Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 6-8PM at John F. Murray Funeral Home, 1220 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, and from 9:30–10:30 a.m. on Monday at St. Anthony’s Church. In her memory, knitters may continue sharing their love with family, friends, and organizations like Project Linus and Warm-Up America (WUA). Donations may also be made in her name to Laurel House, Norristown, PA, and Domestic Violence Service Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA. An Office of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church 695 North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 9:30AM with Rev. John J. Cigan officiating.